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The "Justin method" of algae removal (Hydrogen Peroxide 3%)

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screebo
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I've experienced monti caps accumulating stubborn little tufts of hair algae from time to time. One colony (a strawberry fields beauty) that was looking great except for that fact started a skirt of hair algae around the rim. I could not permanently remove it by tooth brush no matter what I did. I chose to employ the "Justin method" (our last meeting's speaker) and do a 3% Hydrogen Peroxide dip. I removed the cap from the tank and rotated it's rim in a straight solution of 3%. I gave it about a minute of contact and returned it to the tank. bubbles and slime formed immediately where the solution made contact and I held my breath. 20 minutes after reintroduction to the tank, I blew off the bubbles and slime with my trusty turkey baster and "Voila" extended polyps and happy tissue. after two more days, the algae is gone. I tried the same technique with a frag of zoas that had become covered with algae and the same results: Two days later, no algae and healthy zoas.

Take away message: In case you've considered doing this, I've had good results

--John
San Carlos "Your anemones can't hurt you if you keep track of your friends"
Elos 120 Liter

tuberider
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I have as well, glad to see you went the more conservative route with the Monti Smile

I'm smarter than some things, but maybe not this thing here because it has a battery" -Ricky

houser
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OK - Emergency turbinaria fragging a few weeks back gave me this test scenario for testing H202 for tissue loss. Tissue loss defined as rapidly advancing grayish soft tissue and polyps disintegrating. Almost like a bacterial thing on fish???

H202ing 2 frags tissue loss stopped in tracks.
Revived 2 frags kept loosing until death.
Reefdiped 4 frags halted it (super dark strong solution, violent turkey basting)
Control 2 frags (no dip) kept loosing until death.

FWIW...
Over the counter bottle from drugstore.

- dave

+80g

Gomer
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well shit howdy....an actual comparative study! Good stuff Laughing out loud

-Tony
"Are you out of your mind Tony, you know better than to mix Blood Sport and reefing."-Tuberider
"I need a Vanilla Ice to English translator Big smile "-Gresham

screebo
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Yeeee------haw, I love science more than fresh cut hay. Smile
Mine came from CVS pharmacy in the discounted three pack. Straight out of the bottle..... Sick

--John
San Carlos "Your anemones can't hurt you if you keep track of your friends"
Elos 120 Liter

fingerwrinkles
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I got the great (sarcastically he says) idea to cleanse my various collections of dry rock (about 200#+) with H2O2 baths followed by freshwater soaks to sterilize them for the new tank. Unfortunately the triple pack small bottles of 3% you get at CVS don't go too far when you're filling up a garbage can. However, I had another great idea (a good one this time) to try the box stores to see if their H2O2 was less expensive. The best deal I've found so far was at Big Lots, where their 3% bottles (same size as CVS) are only 50 cents each ... score Smile. Now I only have to worry about the odd questions when I come up to the register with 30 bottles of the stuff in my cart ...

As an aside, anyone know where the 30% H2O2 might be found locally? I know it's really dangerous stuff, but would like to get that instead of boxes of the 3% stuff since I've still got a lock of rock to purify.

Gomer
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I've only been able to get 30% from places like FisherSci.com

-Tony
"Are you out of your mind Tony, you know better than to mix Blood Sport and reefing."-Tuberider
"I need a Vanilla Ice to English translator Big smile "-Gresham

fingerwrinkles
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Hmmm thanks Tony. I 've seen it advertised from some scientific supply houses as well but was hpoing to not have to ship the stuff. If I can find any locally I'll post the source in case others are looking for it as well.

GreshamH
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There are supply houses that sell it but I do not think they sell to the general public. Univar and Spectrum come to mind.

Pretty sure though if you play your cards right you can get it at Bryant Labs in Berkeley.

Bryant Lab Inc
1101 5th Street
Berkeley, CA 94710-1201
(510) 528-2948

Gomer
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Note: 30% H2O2 is EXTREMELY dangerous (as some people here already know). It can cause rapid burns to your body, and in some cases can be explosive.

-Tony
"Are you out of your mind Tony, you know better than to mix Blood Sport and reefing."-Tuberider
"I need a Vanilla Ice to English translator Big smile "-Gresham

DurTBear
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Thanks for posting your experiences with this method. I will give it a shot as well. There's an annoying patch of hair algae right in the middle of my setosa that just won't go away...

-Durwin
San Francisco, CA